Author's note: Hey so real quick, I want to mention that I am changing the update schedule. Instead of Sunday night, I will be posting every Friday evening. It's midnight here and already Saturday, so my mistake. ^^' But I will def be posting every Friday evening from now on, just to give myself the weekends off. Thanks for understanding. They will still be 10k words per chapter to keep things going.

This chapter will alternate between Kenshin's and Soujiro's POVs. Enjoy!

"Drunk on ego
Truly thought I could make it right
If I kissed you one more time to
Help you face the nightmare"

- A Perfect Circle

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"Welcome home!"

Hiko politely shuts the front door from behind me as I have a look around the house. Everything looks so much brighter and cleaner than I remember. Has Hiko been that busy since my inpatient stay at the hospital? It looks to be so; the walls have a fresh new coat of paint on it now. The floors have been waxed to a high polish. The carpet looks to have had a steamer on it done professionally. And is that a new kitchen table? Even the air carries a new scent of candles that dots random areas in our home. I take my time looking around, slowly, feeling the small pulls of a smile coming over my face.

Home really is where the heart is, huh? But then, my expression darkens slightly, and Hiko did not fail to notice this.

He places a hand on my shoulder and frowns at me with concern, "Son, are you alright?"

I gape at him, catching myself quickly and just shake my head, "Y-yeah. Sorry. It's just.."

It's just.. Soujiro wasn't there.

I felt like, out of all the days I've spent at the hospital, the discharge day is when I'd be sure he'd be there to welcome me back home. But, he wasn't there. In fact, it felt like maybe a good couple of days since I've last seen or heard from him. I was guessing that maybe school really went hard on him suddenly, or maybe he got into another tiff with the gang. Or maybe the cops did come after him after all, and tensions are probably high at the Seta residency. Either way, my heart feels heavy over his absence. To think I've spent my entire life without him, before I met him..

It just doesn't feel natural being here, alive, without him.

"Hm?" Hiko tilt his head on the side quizzically, letting my shoulder go, "I'd figure all of this would make you happy."

I snap back to reality from my thoughts, looking at him in a stagger, "No! I love it here! You did great. I just.. I thought maybe.. That my friend Soujiro would be there. Especially because of the hospital bills.."

"Oh, don't worry about that!" Hiko laughs, "He did mentioned taking care of it, in case you forgot. I'm sure the billing department sent it over to the company to take care of it."

I deflate. That's not what I mean at all, but.. Maybe it's best that he walks away with that type of notion in his head. I don't want him to think I miss Soujiro in that way right now. I can tell him the truth later on. Not right now. Not while he's looking around the place and feeling high of finally having his only child back home, and how happy his son is over how decked out the place looks. I smile somberly, opting to instead to just be quiet for once.

"You must be hungry! It's about to be dinner time, how 'bout I order us something from outside?" Hiko whips out his cell phone to start his Google search.

"Yeah, maybe," I click my tongue, looking at the ceilings above me, and I walk around again to trail my fingers over the lamp that sits on a coffee table, "Pizza sounds pretty good right about now."

Pizza. We went out on a pizza date once. Soujiro. My eyes flutter close, heart aching.

Just where in the world are you?

And more importantly.. Are you okay?

I enter my bedroom now, Hiko still downstairs and talking into his phone to make the pizza order. Growing up, Hiko really loved getting pizza with me, and it was always a fun time for me to have with him as a kid. For some reason or another, I could barely remember my mother, but I did remember the one time when she was alive, that her favorite toppings were spinach and goat's cheese. I thought it was really gross when I was little, but now I have to wonder what it tastes like. My mom was always such a contradiction like that; she loved pizza, but would balk if anyone used to offer her something to eat or drink at their houses, because she wanted to keep trim. She enjoyed looking feminine, but had such a masculine, logical side to her.. My mom was so kind to me, but was highly distrustful towards other men. She was positive in mind, but really negative with her emotions. Volatile, if you will. I smile at nothing in particular as I close my bedroom door from behind me.

Her hair, a fiery blast of red; her eyes, a chilling blue that could freeze you when she glares at you.

I close my eyes to remember her face.

Mother..

...

I lie down on my bed now. When I got discharged, I had the security team give me back my cell phone and, turning it on, I've received a few new text messages from Sanosuke and Yahiko. I didn't have the time to read through them because Hiko was wanting to get home as quickly as possible, and of course, so did I. That hospital was nice, but we knew that the both of us just did not belonged there. The customers that would come in all wore such rich clothing, and it was clear, from the look on their faces, that Hiko and I definitely must've gotten our places at that hospital due to someone else entirely, and not from our own accord.

Once again, I am reminded of my place in society.

But now I'm back home, and I'm free to be myself. I turn on my cell phone and read through the text messages. There were a few from Sanosuke, because they were long because I guess he had to take some time thinking up on everything he wanted to say. Then there are also three from Yahiko. They were sent to me maybe last week, I suppose around the time they reunited with Soujiro.

Soujiro..

There wasn't any new messages from him. Only the older ones that were sent from before I got into that fight with Shishio.

I read the text messages from Sanosuke first:

hey. it's been a while, but i've been thinking a lot, and i want to come forward with an apology. no, i don't expect u to forgive me. and i could never hold it against you for it either. but it's been a rough fucking past few weeks ever since that night you told me that you and soujiro are 2gether and honestly it was a lot to take in. i guess growing up i always saw you out with girls and it made me so confused that now all of a sudden it took just one dude to make you do a 180. megumi and i talked soooo much over this shit and she brought up the concept of bisexuality. and tbh it was a bit of an eye opener for me. you know me, i am just a straight dude so ofc idk jack shit about that gay stuff.

regardless man this is so fucking hard for me. not because i'm not happy that you found true love, it's the fact that now things are going to be so different and i realize that our time in high school is about to be over soon. and then what? like are you going to srsly follow soujiro after we graduate and move someplace far away? are we never gonna see u again? like... are we going to lose you to him completely? THAT'S the issue here in the end. we welcomed him because we saw how much he contributed to your changes and we wanted you to succeed in life. but never in a million years did we thought that it actually meant he wanted to fuck you behind our backs. like bro fr if that was what we shouldve known since day one, we would have immediately been on your side and told him to fuck off completely because like WHO DOES THAT. you tried to warn us but ig we didn't listened and maybe we deserve this blow back

and also i've been sorta crying nonstop about this shit because i realize i have lost my best friend to someone else who isn't me and it hurts so bad to know that i can't even compete with him. like you think its just kaoru who is like jealous or heartbroken over this? man i am HURTING just as much too! i don't have his wealth or his smarts... i feel like when you prefer fucking him over wanting to chill with me, there's that gap i can't cross over. like he has that upper hand over me that i can't bend to my will anymore. please believe me when i say that i do want you happy, kenshin, you were always there for me when my old man used 2 beat me senseless, but im not gonna lie, i am afraid of losing you completely. you mean the world to me. to all of us. if we never speak to each other again, please don't forget about us.

I sigh, blinking the tears in my eyes away, but a gasp and a sob quickly follows from my lips. Sano, you idiot. Of course I could never leave you behind! I've thought about so much at the hospital, and one of those thoughts was how I was I supposed to have everything work out for me somehow in the end: An ending where I can stay here with my father, have all my friends back again, be a normal guy again, and ultimately.. also have Soujiro in my arms as well. I want all of it. Maybe I'm being selfish. Maybe I'm greedy. Maybe I shouldn't want so much. But goddammit all, haven't I've suffered enough? Haven't I've gone through so much lack in life?

I brave myself to read the texts from Yahiko now:

kenshin, i just wanted to say how sorry i am for everything. i regret so much over how i've acted with you and soujiro. it keeps me up on most nights from all the guilt i have. i can't eat or sleep as much as i usually do. mom's been asking about you so much. she knows i've been avoiding you and wanted so much to ground me despite the fact that i'm an an adult so she can't. lmao. but enough about that. i have to come clean with everything. sano told me what happened between him, shakku and soujiro. they found something fucking evil on soujiro's dad's laptop. i can't even describe it here. i feel like it'd be too much to do so over text, so... if you can, please just talk to sano about this as soon as you can.

i can't lie, i am wracked with so much guilt over this! i think soujiro's in serious danger and there's so much we haven't uncover yet. but i know i fucked up majorly, and really... i think i was just jealous of how much time you and soujiro were spending together. i felt like it used to be us three assholes, if not counting the girls and the other friends we have, but... you and sano are all i have. we grew up to be close brothers, much closer than family. i'd hate to give up something like that just because you wanted to explore yr sexuality. but i realize now how self-centered i've been acting, and how wrong that was. i can't expect things to go back to the way it used to be... i realize how much i've hurt you and you probably don't want to talk to me ever again, and really... maybe i deserve that.

but kenshin, please. just talk to sano. at least just once. at least to get to the bottom of this. even if we all stop being friends, i just know something really bad is happening right now and it's up to you to help soujiro. if you and i can't be friends anymore, then so be it. i'll always, always care about you from a safe distance. please take care of yrself, bro.

My eyes flutter close with a heavy heart. I honestly can't believe they were actually jealous. I thought my spending time with Soujiro would be the least of their concerns, but I suppose looks could be deceiving. Now I'm filled with a newfound sense of guilt over how much distance I've placed between me and those guys.

I should call them. I think it's the least I could do after everything I've put them through. It's clear that they hope for a reconciliation, and I rather not spend my life missing them if I can help it. After this surgery, I can honestly say that it really has reminded me that so much can happen in life. Worse yet, how short life can be if one is not too careful. I realize now that I am not the superhuman I thought I was just because I am so young. I want to hurry up and mend things with my friends before it's too late.

The first one I will call is Sanosuke. He was the first to break the silence with Soujiro, so it's only reasonable that he gets his answers from me first. I press the appropriate buttons to call him. I press my phone against my ear and I wait, letting it ring a few times. I look around in my room, sighing, wondering if maybe I should just take a nap. Post-surgical exhaustion is a real thing. Before I want to give up and hang up to try again later, I hear something, and my heart stops.

"Kenshin?!"

My vision immediately blurs and I exhale in relief.

"Hey.. Sano."

I hear him make a sound with his mouth, a cross between a sigh and a smile of sorts, and he responds: "I finally get to hear your voice. How.. How the hell are you, man?"

I smile bitterly, "I'm fine. Still tired, but.. I'm okay."

We are quiet for a moment, and he finally goes, "I guess you read our messages."

"Yeah. And.. Of course I forgive you, you dumb fuck," I tear up significantly more now, "You and Yahiko mean the world to me. I wanted to stay mad at you guys, but.. I honestly can't just forget about you two. I hope.. I hope that you could also find it in your hearts to forgive me for being such a colossal dick."

"Kenshin!" He breathes out, "No! You shouldn't have to fucking apologize at all! I meant what I said in those messages. Really. But.. I realized something else, too. You and Soujiro have something real, and I could never stand in the way of that. I realize that now. So please don't ever think that any of us are in some competition with each other, because it's just not like that all. We just wanted to see that you were alright, and in the end.."

More tears starts to flow out, and I choke, "Fuck you, man. You are the best friend a guy like me could ever have. Don't you.. ever.. ever pull this kind of shit on me again. I missed you all so much."

The sound of Sanosuke's sigh on the other line sounded weak and had a tremor in it. I guess maybe he's crying, too.

"Thank you, Kenshin. For real."

"Of course.."

We were quiet for a few beats, perhaps just enjoying the silence, or perhaps the sweet sound of reconciliation between old friends. But the pain inside my chest that lingers over Soujiro's absence is still here. I wonder if Sanosuke knows something about it. It just seems so uncharacteristic of Soujiro to miss my discharge at the hospital. I know that something is up, and I know they're all talking again, so I knew I had to ask what is going on.

"Sano," I start again, "Did you hear from Soujiro at all today?"

"Huh? No, I haven't. Have you?"

I blink, perplexed. My brows pull together and I shake my head, "No? How can that be? Aren't you two talking again?"

"Well, yeah, all is well on that front. Why, is he not talking to you right now?"

"He wasn't at the hospital today when I got discharged.."

"What?"

"Yeah," I carefully get up from my bed, "Soujiro would never do something like that, and I.. I'm scared that something must've happened to him. I thought you would have heard from him by now."

"No, Kenshin, I.. I haven't heard from him at all! Fuck," I can hear him now pacing in his own room, "Yeah, something's up, because the last thing I sent him was a text this morning and he hasn't responded back. He always replies back at least within the hour, so this isn't good."

"You don't think.. He's hurt, do you?"

"I hope not, because if so, I'm about to kill a motherfucker," Sanosuke fumbles with something, "I'm heading out and I'll find Yahiko. Do you need me to come pick you up?"

I blink, suddenly remembering that Hiko just ordered pizza a few minutes ago. But this is definitely way more important, and my stomach can wait. I myself cannot wait to see my lover again, meanwhile. I nod with determination, "Yeah. Pick me up."

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[Two days ago.]

"Rise and shine, Master Soujiro."

The curtains and blinds of my windows welcomes in the bright morning sun, and although my eyes are still closed from the slumber, I still writhe with a groan. I feel like I haven't really slept well at all since what happened last night. I was so weak from the shock of what I had experienced with my father, as well as the lack of eating dinner. It was a blur after I touched myself to the memories of Kenshin in my bathroom before I nearly collapsed on my bed as a futile effort to try and sleep as much as I could. But the sleep felt like it kept trying to break itself apart in intervals of barely resting and being mostly awake, staring into the dark abyss of my bedroom walls at night.

Basically, I just don't feel well rested at all.

The voice that called out to me softly, was none other than my most favorite maid of this house: Mrs Oguni Hana. She is a woman in her late-middle age, pleasantly plump and just as pleasant in her mannerism. Out of all the help in this house, it is her who closely resembles a mother figure for me. She worked for both my father and I for the past twelve years now. About as long she has known my mother before she passed away, and saw me as a sweet little boy who knew next to nothing about the real world. Despite my awkward phase into rebellious adolescence, she still loves me just as much as she always have when she knew me as that little boy.

And it is for that reason that I grew very much attached to her.

I finally let my eyelids slip open to look at her rummage through a small emergency kit to get out some ointment and gauze bandages. The heat on my cheeks flare up, as I suddenly remember the humiliation of having my father slapping me last night. I suppose maybe he told her? Or perhaps not. But he must've told her something, right? Her face is still with serenity and with sheer concentration over the task at hand without much fuss or concern. Did he told her that someone else hit me from school and that I came home all banged up? My blush deepens. I don't suppose she also knows of the homophobic bullying I've been enduring all this time, now does she?

But of course she knows. She was the one who helped me with taking baths when I was little. She was the one who always kept a close eye on me whenever I would run around, playing and laughing. Especially when mother and father were too busy in their own little worlds to care about what their baby was doing. She was the one that dressed me, fed me, and took care of me when I was very sick or gotten have hurt in some way. She saw all of my sides that made me myself for all these years. And even as I became more independent and learned to take care of myself, she is still around to keep her watchful eye on me.

I wonder if she knew of all the men I've slept with before. I was always so very careful of keeping my affairs private. I wonder if she could see a hickey on my neck from an overzealous lover before I met Kenshin, or the red eyes I'll have after I cried yet again over the memories of Okita. Did she recognized the first bloom of love inside my eyes after I made things official with Kenshin, and simply decided to mention nothing at all? Would she even like Kenshin, if I ever dared myself to bring him home to meet her?

Mrs Oguni steps close to my side of the bed, nodding her head, "Well now, let's have a look at your neck, shall we?"

Her smile is so pure, so sure that I did not deserved what happened to me. It did not mattered if it was a bully from school, or my own father who did this to me. She's just hurt-and perhaps a touch helpless-of how to protect me from such violence ever again. She knows that there's next to nothing that she can do for me. I smile at her in desolation. We have that secret understanding of each other, that truly, she cannot intrude into my personal business, and I cannot cling onto her too hard. It would just bring too much unnecessary conflict for the both of us.

She undresses the bandages around my neck and her eyes are now a shade more bitter than before. She shakes her head mildly so, absolutely disgusted by what she's seeing. If she knows that my father did this, she probably hates him more now than ever before. She is always such a great actress when she is around my father; always dutiful and respectful of his wishes, but behind closed doors, she curses his existence. I've heard her using curse words in her Hida dialect whenever she thinks she is all alone in her room, to spitefully spit on his name under her breath. It surprised me a lot when I was growing up.

"Hm." Was all she could say. Of course. Can't be saying too much when perhaps the monster is walking around this mansion right this moment. She immediately gets to work. She cleans the area with medicinal wipes before carefully slathering on the ointment. She says nothing at all during this, and neither did I. What would be the point, anyway? This happened and now she has to take care of me, just as she always have. When she is finished with my neck, she moves on to the cut in the corner of my lip. She gets out a baby blue bag of ice to place it in the back of my head to deal with that bump right there. It feels a lot less worse than last night, but I have to wonder if I'll have some type of brain damage over it.

"What time is it?" I mumble softly to her, looking over my lap, "I have to get ready for school."

I watch her as she places all the supplies back into that first aid kit and responds coolly, "Your father called the school and told them that you will be absent for a couple of days. The weekend will be here soon and it would be wise to let these wounds heal. The last thing we all need are people being aware of what's happening to you and having the media come after us. It would be for the best. Wouldn't you agree?"

Her smile towards me looks so bright and cheery, but judging by the intonation of her voice, she wants to be angry with my father. I wonder how many times she's had the fantasy of poisoning him or killing him in some other way over the years. His cruelty towards me is no secret to her or to the rest of the help, so I'm sure they have been gossiping about it. I gape at her for a bit before nodding carefully, unsure of myself. I suppose taking the next few days off wouldn't hurt. I wouldn't want the attention on me, looking like this.

But then..

Kenshin.

My eyebrows jump up at that thought, remembering that he will be discharged tomorrow. I look at her, and, as if she knows exactly what was on my mind, she looks at me expressionless and mentions the following: "He also took away your keys and your cellphone, so that you won't be able to go outside."

She can see my own face fading into one of devastation, and she wants so much to be there for me. But.. she takes in a sharp breath instead and zips up the bag, turning around to walk away from me quickly. She stops at my door, taking her time to formulate her thoughts, before she looks over my shoulder with an affable smile, "I will bring you your breakfast now. What would Master Soujiro like to have?"

I just want to be with Kenshin.

I stare at her helplessly, not knowing what to say for a while. Am I really going to be stuck here with no way out? How can my father do this to me? Will he.. Will he move us out? I grip my bed sheets shakily. I hope not. Please, please don't let that happen. I don't want to be without Kenshin.

She nods, "I will get you your usual favorite. I'll be right back."

The door closes quietly, and my heart breaks loudly inside my chest. And the tears couldn't stop coming and falling down my cheeks.

How am I suppose to get out of here, now?!

"Kenshin.." I hiccup, the tears running hot down my face.

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[The next day at the Seta residency.]

In many more ways than one, I would do anything to get out of this place. But for some reason, I feel completely defeated, and mostly stayed in my bed. Without a cellphone, laptop, or keys, there wasn't really anything I can do. Plus, Mrs Oguni and the rest of the help were around pretty much the entire time, so it's not like I could sneak around them. They were always catching me at every corner of the mansion, no matter how hard I tried to be quiet. When I needed fresh air, Mrs Oguni was the one to escort me to the courtyard to let me have my time out in nature. When I was hungry, yet again, she was the one who fed me and made sure I was okay in that department. I was allowed nowhere near my father's master bedroom, or even near his door.

Curiously enough, though, I saw no signs of him anywhere. Where the hell did he go?

Today Kenshin is supposed to be let out of the hospital, and here I am, stuck in this house of secrets. I couldn't stop mulling over what I saw in my father's laptop when Sanosuke and his friend were here; I suppose maybe my father is a pedophile, or perhaps enables this in other people to get a massive stream of income into our overall wealth. I feel sick to my stomach, now that I think about it; are we rich because of the Seta Enterprise, or because of this seedy side business? And those emails about an island.. What did it all mean?

Soon, it was nightfall. I am now sitting in my shower, letting the water cascade over me. I haven't bothered to wash my hair or my face and body so far, and just contended to let the steam try and clear my mind. But it's no use. There's so much I'm worrying about. Namely, how Kenshin is going to react today when he doesn't find me there waiting for him. My heart beats with a wretched type of pain and I whimper softly to myself. I wonder how hurt he is going to be over that. I wonder if maybe Hiko finds my absence to be incredibly strange, also. Who is going to give him his homework assignments when I no longer have access to the outside world?

I am hoping that someone else will fill those gaps for me in my place, but I'm scared that they won't.

God fucking dammit.

I very nearly hit the back of my head with the wall behind me, which caused me to yelp out in pain. I hold my head for a few moments, cursing under my breath, as the water continues to douse over me like the gentle rain. I remember spending so much time here with Kenshin and how much he loved the lights changing colors here. Or the little soundtracks that would play along so that we can pretend that we are in the middle of an Amazon rain forest. Kenshin likes to act like he's hard to please, but that first time he experienced this type of showering, he behaved like a little child who finally got to experience a trip out into a magical kingdom of sorts, all too easily pleased with all that his eyes could see. I sigh as soon as the pain of my bump slowly subsides.

I suppose it's no use being like this. I've decided that maybe playing by my father's rules would be the smartest choice to make. I've caused so much trouble recently, and I'll only make it worse if I do something stupid entirely like run away or something. As much as that would make me happy, and as much as I wish that the hiding place could be in Kenshin's room.. I know that it would only cause so much more shit than I can fix after the damage is done.

I wonder if he told Hiko about us already. Would Hiko even accept me as his son's boyfriend?

I shut the water off and step outside to dry off. Well, as long as I am stuck here, I might as well catch up on my studying. I can't let my grades slip just because of everything that's happened. I dress up in some comfortable pajamas to stay warm, since it looks like father wanted the mansion to be at least a little cool for his return. Which is strange, since we're still in the wintertime; it'll only be several weeks before springtime arrives, so why not crank up the heater? Idiot.

I crack open my textbooks to begin. I let my eyes wash over the written words, trying my best to not think about anything else to distract me. It worked, for a little while. But after half an hour in, I'm already slumping my head against the table, groaning in frustration. No. I can't concentrate. I can't study right now, when I feel so fucking heartbroken over once again being torn away from my lover. The only times I was able to study and be on top of my game, was when I knew things are good between Kenshin and I. Better yet, when Kenshin is right here on my side, studying along with me. I swear, I even did my least favorite subjects at school much better thanks to just being with him during those study hours together.

We really make such a great time, him and I.

Maybe I should take a nap. That could maybe help get these thoughts to go away and to transfer themselves into sweet dreams. I let my eyes flutter close with a sigh, trying to decide if maybe I should sludge back over to my bed, but I'm suddenly way too tired to even move.

Suddenly, I hear some polite knocking on my door. My eyelids swing open with a startled gasp, and I sit up straight again, blinking at my door.

"Come in."

The door opens and in comes Mrs Oguni once more, "Master Soujiro. It appears you have some visitors."

My heart pangs at that, and I blink rapidly, "W-who is it?"

Please. Please let it be him.

"There are three young men. Let me remind you that your father is not home from his attending businesses, but they did asked for you."

"Did they tell you their names?" I clumsily get up from my seat of my desk, walking on over to her.

"They said their names were Sanosuke, Yahiko, and Kenshin."

She could tell how absolutely relieved and joyous I looked when she utters that last name, because she suddenly appears more steely than before. I stop, looking at her carefully. I suppose maybe father had already given her the background information about certain people I shouldn't be talking to anymore. But he doesn't even know these friends yet. They haven't met at all, either. But maybe it isn't warranted, since now everybody's on the Seta Enterprise's shit list. Leave it to Soujiro to befriend only the seediest characters on Earth, they think. Which really pisses me off. There's nothing seedy about any of my friends!

And I think the way her eyes tighten over my smile when she uttered Kenshin's name.. So it is true. She does know of my messing around with the same sex. I gaze at her now with a softer disposition, now wanting to play the part of the innocent little boy that she has grown to love for all of these years.

"Nana," I start with a sweet smile, using the nickname I have bestowed upon her ever since I was a little kid, "Won't you please let me see them?"

"Soujiro." Is all she could say, as a reminder of what she had just said about my father and his wishes. But I don't care about his fucking wishes anymore. I have to see Kenshin again.

My eyes close painfully, my smile bittersweet, and I can no longer help but resort to begging; I crouch down on my knees, looking up at her now with glassy eyes. Her expression has softened to that of confusion and surprise. It must be a first for her to see a Seta actually get on their knees to the likes of her, and she never would have guessed that the son of a billion-dollar heir could actually resort to appealing her sensitivities like this. Right now, she is of a superior position over me, and she isn't sure how to respond to this except just looking at my face with the eyes of a mother who doesn't know how to console her child.

But I won't give up. I won't let my father get away with this.

"Nana.. Please."

She watches me with that same confused look in her eyes, but then slowly, it fades back to a more colder expression. She takes a look around my room for some reason, pondering on how to answer my pleadings. My eyes don't leave her face as she looks down on herself, still thinking. Finally, she heaves and exhales, shoulders drooping ever so slightly.

"Just remember the repercussions if your father ever finds out about this, Master Soujiro. I'll only let them in for a short while, but they would need to leave as soon as possible. Your father will be home tomorrow, so I'll need to do my preparations for his return."

I get up with the happiest tears of my life in my eyes, and I hug her. This is not unusual contact, since she was always the one who always held me whenever my mother couldn't, or after she had passed away. And clearly, my father would rather do anything else on Earth before hugging his obviously gay son, so Mrs Oguni is the only one I can receive any form of affection around here. She holds me politely, and I break the hug after a few moments.

"So.. Which boy is it?" Her cerulean eyes frowns into my own blue eyes deeply, but it is not a hateful glare, more like a quizzical one.

My cheeks feel flushed, and I gulp, "It's.. His name is Kenshin."

"Hm," She nods, "Kenshin. Alright, then. Shall I let them in now, or do you need a moment?"

"Yes!" I breathed out, almost too quickly, to which I catch myself and chuckle nervously, "I'm sorry. Yes. Please, let them in."

"Very well, then," She steps away to open my door, "And Soujiro?"

"Yes?"

She is quiet for a moment, before looking over her shoulder at me, her face much softer than before now, "This young man, Kenshin.. Does he love you?"

I stare at her, stunned. I suppose maybe she understands that I have never had anybody love me before, because I only seemed to go after emotionally unavailable boys, or very toxic abusive assholes. It's either that, or she can't believe someone as young as me could already find true love right in the middle of high school. Maybe she was once deeply in love when she was my age, too. Maybe this is her way of trying to bond and understand me. It's honestly sweet of her to do, and I can't help but appreciate it.

I nod with a soft smile, "Yes. He loves me, a lot."

She nods once, "That's all that matters to me, Master Soujiro. I wish you two nothing but the best."

Nana..

She closes the door, and I am alone again. My heart is thundering inside my chest, and I debate whether I should get dressed or not. Finally, I decide to do so; my pajamas don't look too terribly masculine, and I don't want to embarrass us all. I chuckle under my breath at that thought, and quickly slip on some Levi jeans and a black long sleeved shirt. I wrap a slim white scarf around my neck to hide the dressings. A quick shake of my head and finger combing through my bangs, and I'm ready to go.

Kenshin.

I'm coming for you.

.

.

.

I head downstairs just as soon as Mrs Oguni opens the front door to kindly greet the visitors. The first to come in is Sanosuke, looking totally deadpan in general, if not a little bit stiff with the way he's looking around the place. Is he afraid that my dad's around? Then Yahiko pops in, also looking a little stunned and cautious. And right there, just as my stomach drops to the floor, my lover comes walking in; he has just a small bandage over the bride of his nose, and is wearing the leather jacket I had brought him. As soon as our eyes meet, there is a singe of electricity between us, and he looks just as stunned as I am.

All we want to do is run over to each other and hug, but we hold back, now that there are eyes watching us. I know Sanosuke, Yahiko, and Oguni are all aware of our relationship. But, in a way, it still feels unsafe to freely express our affections to one another. Instead, Mrs Oguni have the boys sit down on the couch to prepare us some tea. She closes the door of the kitchen, leaving us four alone at long last. I sit on the couch opposite of them, wishing so much to be next to Kenshin instead. But we're not dumb. We have to play our cards right, and be patient.

"So.. How's it going?" Sanosuke starts with a sad sort of smile.

I sigh, "I'm okay, really. Just taking some time off from school."

"Are you sick?" Yahiko blinks at me, looking all too worried now.

Kenshin is quiet, looking at me with longing in his eyes. He keeps his hands to himself shyly, which is quite uncharacteristic of himself. I look at him for a bit, which just as much yearning in my own eyes.

But without missing a beat, I answer Yahiko's question with a confirming nod, "Yeah. I'll be okay soon."

It's quiet now. Sanosuke and Yahiko slowly glance between the two of us, not failing to notice the intensity of how Kenshin and I are gazing at one another. I know he and I should say something, anything, to not let this moment between us make the other two feel awkward. But, we are at a total loss for words right now.

We just miss each other so fucking much.

"Hey, um," Sanosuke coughs to get our attentions on him now, "You two should like.. You know.. Maybe have a talk in private or something somewhere else. Me and Yahiko will take care of your maid."

My eyes whip back to Kenshin's, and even he looks more alert to the idea.

"Yeah," Yahiko jumps in to support Sanosuke's input, "We'll take care of her. You two should go somewhere now before she gets back."

I really missed these two and I'm so glad we get to be friends again. I smile and nod, looking back at Kenshin, "Let's go. I have homework I need to give to you from school."

.

.

.

Soujiro looks so goddamn handsome in that black top. The little white scarf is a nice touch, too.

I've been dying to feel his touch ever since I've arrived at the front of his mansion. I was dying during the hospital discharge too, when he was missing in action. Seeing him again made me feel something inexplicably intense-like I have been holding my breath for what felt like days already, and he is the only one who can make me breathe again. The very second we enter his room and he closes the door, I grab him into my arms and start to attack his mouth with my own mouth, surprising him in the process. I take a hold of his bottom lip in between my teeth and swiftly slip my tongue into his mouth, eliciting a moan from him. He and I kiss deeply as I start to walk into him and he couldn't help but start to stumble backwards before landing on top of his bed. The very same bed where we've made love in so many times now already, and the only space in the world where we can ultimately be ourselves completely.

"God, I've missed you," I whisper hoarsely in between pecking random spots over his face, "You have.. No idea, how hurt I was that you weren't there at the hospital."

"Kenshin, wait.." Soujiro's cheeks are now reddening, "We have guests over right now, and I.. ahh!"

I don't let him finish as I start to stroke the front of his jeans and I smirk, "I'm sorry, what were you saying?"

"Kenshin!" He shakes his head, "Please, I can't.. We can't do this right now. We have to get ba—"

I crush my lips against his to shut him up. I honestly don't give a flying fuck about anything or anyone anymore. All I want now is Soujiro. All I want is to feel is Soujiro again. All I want is to taste Soujiro again. Nothing else matters at this time. It already feels like it has been way too long. I don't deal with having to have physical distance from him and it shows. And with the way he's involuntarily bucking his hips towards my hand still stroking his hard on, I know that he wants to feel me inside of him in return. I quickly start to undress him and he watches me carnally and with so much lust in his eyes, and usually he would start to put up a fight. But I guess he wants this just as much as I do. Once he's completely in the nude, I look at his white scarf and reach towards it, but flinch my hand back when he recoils away from me with a whimper.

"What's wrong?" I frown at him.

"I.. I want to.. Keep this on.."

I shake my head incredulously, "That's stupid, Soujiro, let me—"

"—No!" He cries out softly, holding his neck with both of his hands now, "Kenshin, please.."

My eyes narrow at him and my voice drops to a few octaves lower, "Soujiro. What are you hiding from me?"

His eyes evade me, but I take his face to have him look at me again, and then I see it: Tears filled with guilt. I gasp, startled. What is going on? Why is Soujiro looking at me like that? Is there something underneath that scarf? I waste no time taking my other hand that was on his erection to gently pull down the front of his scarf down, much to his dismay. I see, before my very eyes, these angry reddish brown marks on the side of his neck, and my breathing halts. I take in this vision before me helplessly, my mind nearly disconnecting from all sense of logic. Soujiro's breathing hilts and sounds shaky as my eyes trail around his neck to see the damage carefully, and I feel it. Deep, red, boiling rage building up inside of me. Soujiro looks at me with these sad, concerned eyes as I can feel my shoulders tremble.

"Kenshin..?" His voice sounds so quiet and so far away from me now.

I lose it.

"Who," I seethe, making him squirm and whine at the fire that's growing inside my eyes now, "Did this to you?!"

"Baby, please.. Calm down.. Not here—!"

"—Soujiro!" I damn near yell at his face, "What is it him?! Your fucking father?!"

At that, he starts to break down sobbing silently to himself. His cries are so high pitched that I could barely hear it, but he finally nods and exhales, "Yes."

I gape at him, stunned. At least he told me the truth, and now, I have all the answers I need about what Sanosuke had warned me about in those text messages: Soujiro really is in danger after all. I have to get him out of here. There's no way I can leave him here with that abusive fuckhead. How dare he put his hands on the love of my life like this?

I can't fucking breathe from all this anger—!

I smash my face into the mattress next to his head, just to let out a blood curdling scream. The bed thankfully muffles it out. Soujiro stills himself, deathly afraid of interrupting my much needed meltdown. Finally after a few moments pass us by, I lean back from the mattress so that I can trail the softest kisses on his bruises, deciding what I am going to do soon.

I am going to murder his father.

"Soujiro," I breathe into his neck, "I need to get you out of here. You're not safe here."

"But I can't," He continues to cry quietly to himself, "I can't leave. He has my phone."

Fuck. If that old man sees his text messages that we have been sending to each other all this time, he'll have definite proof that Soujiro's in a relationship with me. To think I would be stupid enough to also send him racy messages about how much I wanted to fuck him during class... Those will also make us look really bad. Fuck. Fuck! My eyes shut in anger, trying to think of something, anything, to say.

Finally, Soujiro embraces me gently, kissing my cheek, "Honey.. We have to take this slowly if we want to make this work. Me escaping, I mean."

I'm trying to calm down my breathing and my heart rate with my panting, leaning away from his neck just so that I can look at him now; just so I can see that beautiful face again. Those beautiful blue eyes, his oval face, the way his eyelashes look thicker and darker just from his tears alone. I couldn't help myself and start to kiss him again, lovingly and slowly this time. He sighs into my mouth, rubbing his hands over my back, aching for more, but knowing that this is as good as it's going to get for tonight.

"We'll make a plan," He whispers in between kissing me, "To get me out of here. But right now.. While that man has my phone and I'm under lock down.. I can't do anything right now. Not until he calms down. I'm so sorry, Kenshin."

"Soujiro, I..!"

He presses his fingers against my lips, smiling at me with a bitter sweetness to it that kills me on the inside the longer I stare at him. Just like that, he has defeated me, and I have no choice but to back down. I am always someone who doesn't back down easily, especially when it concerns the people I cherish the most. But he has a point. If he rebels now, it can only cause catastrophic consequences not just to himself, but to me and to everybody else in our lives. We have to play this right if we are going to be together in the end. All I know is that this is not the home he should stay in anymore, that his future to take over the family's enterprise is not what he wants to do at all, and that he deserves to be in a loving environment that embraces him for who he truly is.

All of a sudden, fresh hot tears spring up in his eyes and his smile weakens considerably. He murmurs: "You know.. If this is.. Too much for you.. Because I know.. How hard it is to be with me.. We can always just.. Break up.."

My heart drops and I take in a sharp breath, taking his face with my hands and crushing my lips against his again, just to shut him up. Just to stop my stomach from dropping off from that terrifying height.

I lean back to shake my head, "No, Soujiro! Don't! Don't say those things! I will never give up on you! You are.. You are everything I've always wanted and dreamed of. You are worth all this effort, Soujiro, believe me! Please. Don't say those things.. I love you, so much!"

That bitter sweet smile slowly comes back on his face, paired with such beautiful happy eyes.

"Oh, Kenshin. I love you so much, too," He takes me back in for another deepening kiss and, while rubbing his tear stained cheek against mines, he whispers ever so softly, "When all of this is over. When this nightmare of ours end.. and we find a way to do so, as soon as we are able to.. Will you marry me?"

I kiss that same tear stained cheek, hungry for its salty taste, "God, yes. Yes, I am going to marry you."

We kiss again for a few seconds, until we hear a low groaning sound somewhere outside of his room. We freeze, and he looks at the door with panic. Fuck. I get off from him and give him back his clothes. Someone is coming and we need to get out of here, quickly.

Soujiro very quickly puts on his clothes and I rearrange my long ponytail in place so as to look less conspicuous. As soon as he zips up his jeans, we hear a soft rapping at the door and a female voice calling out, "Master Soujiro? Is everything alright there? The tea is ready now."

I gulp dryly as Soujiro responds politely, "Yes, Nana, I'm alright! We'll be right there! I was just showing Kenshin the studying materials. Give us a moment, please."

"Hey," I whisper as he gets up from the bed while grabbing his hand, "I've got something for you."

"What're you..?" He blinks in confusion as I shove an object into the back pocket of his jeans now, "What is that?"

"Shh," I shush him, giving him a very quick peck on his cheek, "Don't pull it out until you're back here alone, do you understand?"

He gapes at me, but starts to blink as his maid raps the door again politely.

"Master Soujiro?"

"Coming!" He and I nod to each other, understanding the objective.

.

.

.

"This oolong tea is delicious, Nana," I sigh into my tea cup, "Is it a new brand?"

"Your father brought it over from another trip," Mrs Oguni smiles at me cheerfully, "I am glad Master Soujiro enjoys his tea."

"This white tea is also mad good." Yahiko takes a sip of his cup.

"For real." Sanosuke nods.

Kenshin, of course, is silent.

"Ah, does Kenshin also enjoy his tea? I hope it is to your satisfaction." Mrs Oguni gets up from her chair as soon as she is finished with her drink.

Kenshin grunts, giving her at least a slight nod in recognition of her hosting skills. Oh, Kenshin. After what he saw in my bedroom, he is not going to be in the best of moods until I can get myself out of here. I know this. But I know I can't possibly up and leave without my dad potentially fuck us all even harder than before. Mrs Oguni's job is also on the line should he ever come to find out that she has let in three visitors that he hasn't approved of yet, or even know much about. This is so hard for all of us right now.

"Here, why don't I take everyone else's cups and give you all a tea bag to take home?" I offer with a chirpy attitude, determined to not have Mrs Oguni get too caught up in Kenshin's less-than-stellar social skills right now.

"That's calm," Sanosuke gets up from the couch, "We have to go soon, anyway. It's getting late for dinner."

"Kenshin, does your dad have any leftover pizza for us at all?" Yahiko grins from where he sits.

Oh, god. What I'd give to have pizza with Kenshin right about now. These two boys don't know how lucky they are.

"He loves getting these two giant pies, so I'd say so." Kenshin shrugs, trying to appear aloof.

"And then afterwards, you can have more tea," I smile at Kenshin brightly, which he catches on and blushes slightly to himself, "I'll be right back with those, and then we'll lead you all out. Thank you so much for visiting me."

Mrs Oguni and I set the small tea cups into the kitchen's sink in the other room, and she grabs the appropriate tea bags. Thankfully, she says nothing about Kenshin's standoffish attitude, or how we were missing in action for a bit too long than what's normal when she was making tea for us earlier. But I do have to wonder if maybe she's just formulating her thought on what she'll tell me later on when we let those three go.

When we return to the living room and handed those boys the tea bags, they all give their bows to us, which was much appreciated by Mrs Oguni.

"Well now," She smiles sagely as they all get up from their bowing position, "Your parents brought you all up correctly for you to do that. Thank you so much. Master Soujiro here will show you to the door; I shall retire for tonight."

She's not serious, is she? It's her job to do that. But that very quick look she gives me tells me that she wants me to have one last moment with Kenshin, which grabs my heart. Is she really on my side after all?

"Thank you for your service, Nana," I nod as she walks away towards the hallways to go to the guest room. Ever since my father has more or less 'grounded me', she has taken residency here to keep a watchful eye over me. As soon as she closes her bedroom door far from us, I turn towards the three and whisper, "Thank you, guys."

"Don't sweat it," Sanosuke smiles sheepishly and rubs the back of his head, "We were so worried about you, of course we'd come over to check up on you."

"You're coming back school on Monday, aren't you?" Yahiko inquires.

"I should think so." I nod.

"Good," Kenshin sneers to the floor, "Fucking ridiculous that your dad is holding you hostage here. Just.. Please remember what I told you before back there."

"Kenshin.." My eyes waver as I look at him. He looks so hurt, so angry, so helpless.

"Come on, we should go." Sanosuke finally walks on towards the door and we all follow him.

"Take care, you guys," I open the door, "And again, thank you for stopping by."

Sanosuke and Yahiko nods at me with a cool smile as they walk by me and through the door. Kenshin stops right at the door frame, watching their backs as they keep walking on unknowingly. I stare at him with curiosity at why he's doing that, when he catches me off guard by turning towards me to give me one last final kiss on the mouth, his hand gentle against my cheek. I let my eyes flutter close, letting the warmth take me here.

He lets go and whispers into my ear, "Check your pocket when you're in your room. Goodnight, hon."

He walks off before I have the chance to respond, and thankfully the other two haven't stopped walking or even noticed that Kenshin was much behind them. I touch my lips and blush, a shiver running up my spine. I wonder what he gave me?

Only one way to find out.

After I close the front door and shut off all the lights, I go into my bedroom and lock my own door. I take a careful gander around, as if I expected someone to just jump up and accuse me of something. But thankfully, I am all alone again. Reaching into my back pocket, I feel something small yet hard, and hum to myself with inquisitiveness. I pull it out, and I grunt quietly to myself as I look at it.

...

It's a cellphone.

To be continued.